10T2 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
December 31, 1904. 
Clematis tangutica. 
Amongst the novelties offered by Messrs. Vilmorin-Andrieux 
and Co., 4, Quai de la Megisserie, Paris, is the above species 
from Tangut. The flowers are very numerous and of an 
average size of in. to in., and are borne upon stiff stalks 
8 in. to 10 in. in length. These flowers are produced upon 
wood of the previous year, and are of a beautiful yellow colour 
shaded with golden-yellow, and exactly recall the flower of our 
native wild Tulip (Tulipa sylvestris). The stems easily attain 
a height of several yards, and are furnished with deeply cut or 
pinnasect leaves about 8 in. long or more. The plant is both 
vigorous and hardy, and is, moreover, of great ornamental 
value. The intense colour is remarkable for the genus Cle¬ 
matis, and is, therefore, very striking in association with other 
climbing plants, such as Wistarias, or with its own congeners 
which flower in spring. It is described as being a very suit¬ 
able covering for walls, bowers and trellises. We already 
have a yellow-flowered species in C. orientalis, sometimes 
named C. graveolens in gardens, but the yellow is rather pale. 
We may say, however, that C. tangutica is regarded as a 
variety of C. orientalis in the “ Kew Hand-list. ’ 
Coleus thryrsoideus. 
Since the introduction of “ The Delphinium Coleus no 
doubt many have found it of great value, particularly so as it. 
comes into flower at the dullest time of the year, when there 
are but few to choose from. 
The spikes of the earliest batch are expanding here, and a 
later batch to follow it developing the spikes, which will take 
some time before they are out. 
Perhaps a remark on their culture will not be out of place, 
and a successful result is as follows : Two ways of rearing plants 
can be practised—from seed or from cuttings. Taking the 
former, April is a, good time to sow seed, preparing beforehand 
a clean, well-drained pot or pan, suitable compost in equal 
parts of loam, leaf-soil and sand passed through a 4-in. sieve. 
Give a good watering, and allow it to thoroughly drain before 
it is ready for the reception of the seed. The seed should be 
covered sparingly with tine soil, put in a shady place in a 
temperature of 65 deg. F. ; cover the pot or pan over with a 
sheet of glass to protect the contents from vermin that are 
likely to trespass, on which scatter a few leaves, or a piece of 
paper should shade be necessary, removing this in good time as 
soon as there are signs of germination. When the seedlings 
are large and strong enough, place on a shelf near the roof- 
glass to encourage them to grow as sturdy as possible. A 
little lower temperature suits them best as they advance in 
age; shading from bright sunshine must be continued. Pot 
off singly into small pots when fit to handle, shift on into a 
larger size as the pots become full of roots, using a coarser 
mixture similar to the above. 
Cuttings. —To get these all depends upon nursing the old 
plants that have done duty the previous year. Shorten back 
a little, and keep them in a warm house and pay close attention 
to their water supply. The first lot of cuttings will be ready 
to take off in April or May ; insert singly, or three or four in 
60’s. Root either in not too warm a propagating case, or ex¬ 
posed, stood on a bed in a Melon house. The advantage of the 
latter is that they do not get drawn up so weakly as they gen¬ 
erally do in a close case. Pot on and treat as above. 
Bush pP nts —To produce five, six, or more spikes the plants 
must be ' Tuced t6 break by stopping them about twice-at the 
second ( third pair of leaves. Good single spikes can be 
obtainec sj rooting cuttings at the end of June and growing in 
a 5-in. pot. 
Final Potting. — 6-in., 7-in., or 8-in. pots may be used for 
larger plants, and a compost of two parts fibrous loam, one 
part leaf-soil, a little Mushroom-bed manure put through a 
4-in. sieve, and a little sand. 
During the summer months a cool pit is the best place for 
them until September, when they must be gradually put into 
a little more heat. From 60 to 65 deg. F. is about right for 
them, until they are in full bloom, when they will be useful for 
greenhouse or conservatory decoration, or other purposes. 
An 'application of weak soot-water may be given them occa¬ 
sionally while they are growing. As the flower-spike appears, 
a little guano mixed with soot-water will greatly benefit them 
and help to produce their rich-coloured spike of gentian blue. 
Support them with neat stakes at any necessary time. 
One more important point is to see they do not get crippled, 
consequently allow them plenty of head room. 
Constant Reader. 
[The above was accompanied by a spike raised from a cutting 
taken in June, measuring 10 in. in length, and laden with 
rich blue flowers in full bloom.— Ed.] 
The Resting Treatment of a Few Tubers 
and Corms. 
Bulbs and tubers are oftentimes, after their period of flower¬ 
ing is over, laid aside as if they were not again wanted and the 
consideration extended to them after flowering very little 
indeed ; but here it is where the growth, or rather culture, of 
such plants is sadly neglected and the cause of partial failure in 
their cultivation is to be found, to say nothing of the number 
of bulbs that are found decayed or rotten when the time for 
starting them again comes round. 
The Begonia, our most popular tuberous plant, will flower 
all the better for being put away in comfortable winter 
quarters. One often gets advice to keep them in a cool, dry 
place free from frost. Now, to a good many that advice is 
unfair ; the Begonia will do all the better if wintered in a 
temperature of 45 deg. and kept just moist. It is a great error 
to keep them too dry. 
The Gloxinia is another valuable tuber from which much is 
expected. Now this tuber, if rested in cool quarters, will do 
badly after it, and from such treatment many of the tubers 
will rot. They should be rested in their pots, if at all possible, 
on a shelf in the cool end of the stove, the pots standing up¬ 
right, when they will get the benefit of the syringe ; and as the 
day lengthens, the occasional showers from the syringing aid 
them to start and be in line order for potting in March. 
The Caladium is another tuber of great worth and one that 
repays well when properly rested. It, too, answers badly to 
cool treatment. The stove is the place for it in which to pass 
the winter, a shelf in the stove being a good place. I advocate 
shelves, as pots arranged on them look tidier than lying under 
stages, as is a common practice. 
The Freesia also likes special resting treatment, and I doubt 
if any other corms give better results from proper resting treat¬ 
ment than do these, only, unlike the others mentioned, they go 
to rest when the days get. longer and warmer, which makes it 
all the more necessary to give them more attention after 
flowering so as they may not be dried oft too hastily. A shelf 
in a late vinery where they can get a turn of the syringe when 
going is to their advantage; and after the foliage is properly 
ripened down, they can be either shaken out or retained in 
their pots and kept in cooler quarters till the time for potting 
them comes round. It is a mistake to expect good results from 
bulbous plants carelessly treated after flowering. All should 
be watered gradually less in their growing quarters, or quarters 
similar, till their foliage is properly ripened, and even then 
they should not be allowed to get too dry. If a bulb is rested 
in a temperature suitable to its growth, a great aid-to its future 
welfare will be provided. J- R. 
Fog in London.— For some days previous to Christmas and 
until Wednesday morning last a dense, smoky, yellow fog over¬ 
hung London, extending far beyond the bounds of the muni¬ 
cipal county. Plants in hothouses must suffer. 
